From competing businesses in 1970s Arkansas to a 150+ venue entertainment empire, discover how Dave Corriveau and Buster Corley revolutionized adult entertainment by combining food, drinks, and games under one roof.

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

Lena: Hey there, welcome to another episode of "Behind the Brand"! I'm Lena, and today we're diving into the fascinating story of a place many of us have probably spent way too much money at—Dave & Buster's!
Miles: And I'm Miles! You know, what's wild about Dave & Buster's is that it all started with two guys who were actually competitors. Their businesses were right next door to each other in Little Rock, Arkansas in the late 1970s.
Lena: Wait, seriously? I always assumed Dave and Buster were made-up corporate mascots or something. They're actual people?
Miles: Absolutely real! David "Dave" Corriveau ran a game parlor and saloon, while James "Buster" Corley owned a bar next door. They noticed customers constantly bouncing between their establishments—getting food and drinks at one place, then heading to the other for games.
Lena: That's such a lightbulb moment! "Hey, what if we just... combined these things?"
Miles: Exactly! And get this—when they opened their first location in Dallas in 1982, they decided whose name would go first by flipping a coin. Dave won the toss!
Lena: No way! That's such a fun piece of trivia. So they basically invented what we now call "eatertainment," right? That combination of dining and entertainment under one roof?
Miles: That's right. And it was a pretty ambitious first venture too—a 40,000 square-foot warehouse that cost about $3 million to transform. Pretty gutsy move for the early 80s!
Lena: I'm already fascinated by how this little neighborly observation turned into this massive entertainment empire. Let's explore how Dave & Buster's evolved from that first Dallas location to over 150 venues across North America today.